Sunamganj Located in the north-east of Bangladesh, Sunamganj district lies under Sylhet division, and has an area of 3,670 square kilometres. The district is bordered by Khasia and Jaintia hilly area of Meghalaya (Indian State) to the north, Habiganj district to the south, Sylhet district to the east, and Netrokona district to the west. The main rivers Photo credit: BRAC are Surma and Kushiyara. Microfinance village organisation meeting supervised by integrated Sunamganj is famous for its development program (IDP) held at Derai. stone and sand business. It has been supplying river sand, through its informal schools. TUP Sunamganj is a tourist destination natural sand, crushed stone, focuses on tackling extreme poverty for many domestic tourists since in multiple fronts. HRLS serves the it has more haors and beels gravel and shingle since 1960. disadvantaged community through (wetlands ecosystems) than any its human rights and legal education other district in Bangladesh. BRAC operates the majority of its (HRLE) shebikas. CEP is building Tanguar Haor is the largest inland programmes at Sunamganj, such and strengthening community billabong located in this district. as microfinance, targeting the institutions to ensure socio-political ultra poor (TUP), health, nutrition empowerment of poor people. IDP and population (HNPP), education works at Derai sub-district, tackling (BEP), community empowerment the various dimensions of poverty General information (CEP), human rights and legal in haors (shallow land depressions aid services (HRLS), integrated in north-eastern Bangladesh Population 2,467,968 development (IDP) and skills subject to yearly flooding). It offers development programme. Among Unions 87 livelihood training and support, Villages 2,782 them, microfinance offers two education support, health and Primary schools 1,421 types of loans – dabi (microloan) sanitation support, and legal aid Literacy rates 35% and progoti (enterprise loan). support. BRAC’s new initiative, the HNPP provides health education skills development programme, is Hospitals 12 through health volunteers (shasthya providing holistic skills development Banks 90 shebika) and health workers training and decent employment Bazaars 216 (shasthya kormi). BEP identifies opportunities to enable young NGOs 48 children from marginalised families women and men to realise their full and provides basic education potential. www.brac.net At a glance Human rights and legal aid services (as of December 2016) Human rights and legal education (HRLE) shebikas 743 Microfinance HRLE graduates 33,523 Branches 40 Legal aid clinics 9 Village organisations 2,663 Members 173,737 Targeting the ultra poor Borrowers 57,338 Specially targeted ultra Progoti poor (STUP) member 4,861 Small enterprise clients 3,988 Other targeted ultra poor (OTUP) member 5,300 Health, nutrition Asset received 4,200 and population Training received 8,400 Soft loan received 4,200 Health volunteers (shasthya shebika) 2,140 Health workers Water, sanitation (shasthya kormi) 44 and hygiene Health centres 15 Committee members 9,613 Sanitation coverage 57% Community empowerment Loans for sanitary latrines 314 Community-based Sanitary latrines installed organisation (polli shomaj) 1,642 in school 30 Union-based organisation Deep tubewells installed 33 (union shomaj) 12 Popular theatre team 9 Skills development Training received 255 Education Master craft persons (MCPs) Pre-primary schools 401 training received 120 Primary schools 566 Adolescent development Integrated development programme (ADP) Centres 287 Sub-district - Derai Community libraries Population covered 170,583 (gonokendros) 47 Number of village development organisation (VDO) 1,047 Although every effort has been made to include and verify the accuracy of relevant information in this fact sheet, users are urged to check independently on matters of specific interest. Report any discrepancies/suggestions to [email protected]. This document was last updated on 31 December 2016, is revised yearly and made available on www.brac.net/visitors..